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Problems of Power
It is often tempting to try to solve problems by looking for policy fixes, new technologies, and informational solutions, instead of addressing underlying power dynamics.
Articles P1980
How to Think About Risk in Philanthropy
Foundation officers and endowment managers too often prefer exceedingly safe grants and investments because of misapplied principles, biases, and concerns about their reputations. A Viewpoint from the Winter 2020 issue.
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Reclaiming Civil Society
Organizers renew democracy by building the capacity it requires. Part of the Winter 2020 issue's Realizing Democracy supplement funded by the Ford Foundation.
Opening Public Contracting to Citizen Participation
By understanding the impact of public contracting on their daily lives, citizens become more aware of the need for transparency and accountability. A Viewpoint from the Winter 2020 issue.
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People Power
Powerful organization, rather than efficient mobilization, is the way to re-center people in our political life. Part of the Winter 2020 issue's Realizing Democracy supplement funded by the Ford Foundation.
Building the Field of Sustainable Development
To grow the workforce that will advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, foundations ought to bring back approaches they relied on decades ago. A Viewpoint from the Winter 2020 issue.
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Revitalizing People-Based Government
Recent research documents only a weak electoral connection between state legislators and their voters. It's time to break the cycle and restore political power to ordinary citizens over entrenched minorities. Part of the Winter 2020 issue's Realizing Democracy supplement funded by the Ford Foundation.
Artists in Local Government
Current versions of local government artist-in-residence programs typically stop short of figuring out how to induce social change by focusing too much on the artists’ narrowly defined art projects. A Viewpoint from the Winter 2020 issue.
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Representing the People
Community organizations nationwide are pushing prosecutors to embrace a new criminal justice reform agenda and collaborating with attorneys general to protect working people. Part of the Winter 2020 issue's Realizing Democracy supplement funded by the Ford Foundation.
Brilliant Rule-Breakers
Michela Musto's research scrutinized two classroom dynamics: how educators—mostly white college-educated women—enforced rules or responded to boys breaking them; and how educators disciplined white, Asian-American, and Latino boys differently. A Research article from the Winter 2020 issue.